Waking up sometimes feels like you never fell asleep. Compared to being in the midst of battle for more than four hours without a conclusion? It's like having the expectation for a clean knock out ten seconds in but the opponent acquired an iron chin, even decided to do a little jiggle.

Lex blocked a spear thrust and tilted his head. Ignoring the piercing green glow that took his opponent by surprise. This slow retreat encouraged the bloody Elves and their Dwarven allies to chase us. They are so stupid as to force us back towards our reinforcements.

It's no wonder when the scary, accurate, green lasers started reaping life from more than fifty meters away.. they are dumbstruck.

Their commanders still hung around the back line like the pansies they are. So how could they have missed the support or the support fire that almost grazed many of the front lines troops but killed the opposing enemy.

The enemy yelled, "retreat."

Like we would give up the small advantage of wiping out half their force now. Even if blood and sweat poured down our faces. Some of our arms are close to hanging limp at our sides, we still stepped forward and attacked.

The fight just went at a reverse pace. We didn't fight all that risky and some of us even fought the same opponent until we reached bowman range.

The company reversed footing and scooted out of the range of the rainbow cloud coming down. The enemy beat a hasty retreat but we stood on more of their brethren than we left behind.

Yet, Lex turned to stare at a row of archers hiding behind a barrier. The real commander stood with his hands behind his back. The bloody noble held nothing but disdain but too cowardly to step forward.

Not even once.

Lex snorted and wiped the sweat off his brow. He led his team back to the camp site and broke away. Most of them survived by the grace of a good ass healer. The rest due to extraordinary will to live. Yet, none of them seem sad about the loss of life.

"My lord, Kathy, is in the medical tent." Esmeralda marched over with the G.I. Joe rogue.

"They are slaying some of the slaves when I arrived and well your wife is stupid. She forced me to save the rest and suffered several wounds. I'm not the best at fighting and it took me a while to escape with her.." The rogue hastily explained.

Lex held up his hand and opened up the darknet. He used his authority to reward the guy for doing his best. It isn't easy trying to save want-to-be heroes.

"No worries." Lex patted the man's shoulder and rushed to the medic tent.

He instantly spotted her lying on the medical bay. The shit floating made it look more like a funny ass coffin then something meant to restore your health. It isn't surprising that a lot of scars decorated her body according to what the guy said. Though looking over the crew beside her, it made sense. They are all the Elven style of beauty. The type that he would neglect on principle of having bigger breasts than them.

Lex made a crystalline chair and sat down beside her bed. He opened up his darknet and began sorting through the shit that he ignored when he put his all into forging a path on the battlefield.

Not to surprising that his fucking inbox screamed at him for a refreshment. The first couple are just redundant things that he asked to be sent when he wanted to control everything. He pushed those into a folder and focused on the strangers.

Like one particular guy developed an engine that processes liquid fire instead of refined gas. The cars are similar to hover type with super slick bodied that would make you desire it more than spicy wings on wings day.

The guy wanted to use the Ebony Rose name as a backer and offer a decent percentage, ten percent of all sales.

Lex accepted the deal and forward it to finance to finalize everything. The next couple didn't have outstanding offers or even come with any sincerity. The finance and marketing guys obviously thought that they were trashed but the equipment these guys developed is something research and development flagged.

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We could just buy one when they find another backer. I finalized the disinterests and moved on to the one flag in red. Well, two. One a rail-gun with decent penetration towards mana shields. Lightning users could deflect the projectile by adding another branch or magnetism. It's why actually bullets aren't all that effective.

They will either be burnt, slowed and frozen, or just plain deflected. Plus no mana to really stop a metal or earth mage from outright pulling a telekinetic trick from movies.

In the end, I pushed it to finance to be discussed with the creator but it isn't a priority in my opinion. The mana reactor?

It utilized the inharmony between two conflicting elements to create a type of destructive energy. That energy is the source of power that the creator used to power his lab but it is only a prototype. He apparently lost a deal with a small group from the added notes. They stopped supplying him with materials because he couldn't keep up with the demand for special equipment.

Apparently the appraising R and D nerd felt it held similar structures to the mana reactor they developed. Different methods and his source energy is stronger. It is like using nuclear energy when antimatter is a more efficient source.

Lex stamped his name and skimmed through citizens' complaints and news articles. Most of the gist is similar to how Arlene pointed out the corruption by the government faction. Not that he cared about the opinions of non-factors who aren't even related to his actual employees and friends.

In short, it is like another country talking about your country without being able to benefit your country.

The only real complaints came from security companies who felt like they didn't have a chance as a subordinate force to showcase themselves. In short, they wanted to earn benefits from the war that isn't even over.

Lex rubbed his chin and stared at Kathy's pale face. Her cheek bones stuck out a little more than they did before. Even her breasts shrunk by a few inches. He just hopes that ass is still there. He worked really hard to develop the shape to it from that almost cliffhanger.

He opened the Subordinate group thread and left them a post. Describing the fact that the highest reported combat strength from the best attached company isn't over sixty. Which means that in a battle consisting of over hundreds men, the side with the greater number and variety of force will win.

In this case, our side is fielding two forces who have fought together for a while. Foot troops and cavalry. If they want to come join and meet the minimum standards, they are free to come and assist but because the mass majority of work is in the hands of the guild. They aren't going to get a share higher than five percent.

Of course this is met with instant reply which suggests they attack a separate outpost. Yet, they don't have siege weapons and there is no way that the siege weapons that have yet to arrive on his battlefield would supervise their battlefield.

Of course he agreed just to let them suffer and stop bothering him. After all, over the past two weeks of non-stop fighting, he conquered three outposts and two are purely a paradise for flora.

He felt a touch on his chin and turned to see those beautiful grey eyes. He grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles.

"Glad you are awake. Thought I would have to plan a funeral and not be able to stare into those sexy grey eyes. Can you imagine the horror? Plus that ass.. not that it's all big but after all the work I spent shaping it to go from I'm walking over a small mound to damn my legs burn. Who put this mountain here?"

Kathy rolled her eyes and sat up or tried to. She paused midway and Lex shot up, holding her against his arms.

"I'm fine." She tried to push against the steel plates chest armor.

Lex leaned back and sat down the moment she sat up all the way and kicked her legs off the table.

"I didn't think you would come." Kathy started but Lex pushed a glass of water to her lips.

"Sorry but your crack lips look like dandruff flakes. It is annoying to see you talking but one of them is talking faster."

Kathy sighed and sipped from the glass. She sat it aside and licked at her lips, unsuccessfully.

Lex grabbed the glass and filled it with more water. "You might not have had faith but I sent people to look for you after you didn't show. Found out you went this way, so when I had the strength to personally make a move I did. As you can see, I waged war for you."

Kathy glanced at the many occupied medical bays with healers dancing around to fix the more serious cases.

"Well, I'm glad you did. That place sucks." Kathy let out a crooked smile.

Lex nodded and leaned forward, brushing his lips against hers. "You have no idea how much I miss you."

Kathy let out a dry chuckle and wrapped her arms around him. "How about you take me home. I want some comfort."

Lex lifted her up in princess carry and left the tent. He flashed to the portal and teleported back to the guild residences. He walked out of the Ebony Rose Guild tower and realized that most of the city is developed. Only patches of undeveloped land still sat untouched.

Smiling, he flew to the tallest pattern in the west of the quarter. He flew through the open gate and passed the grand lobby with its pink wooden tiles. Down an open to the nature walk way that pink orchids scattering petals about. He used his foot to slide open the door and greeted three women who were huddy around a couch laughing with wine glasses.

Why do women go silent when a man comes around but loud as fuck when said man wants some peace and quiet?

Where is the logic?

Lex marched to the biggest bedroom which held the smell of his clothes. He lowered Kathy down on the bed and turned to the heavy, flat footsteps.

If Kathy didn't fall asleep, he would have set up a barrier. Totally ignored this pest.

"Hey, can I ask you for an interview to promote my media program?" Marissa leaned against the door frame, sticking her pretty face in.

"Fine. Send me the list of questions ahead of time." I waved her away.

"I'm all set up to go live now."

"I'm busy."

"She is just sleeping. Stop being a creeper."

"Don't you see me showing my devotion?"

"Is that what you call it? Looks like you aren't really doing much but hovering."

Lex waved his hand and the door knocked Marissa back out. He undressed and went to shower. He crawled in behind Kathy and held her, listening to her breathing.